Spotlight on Chava Gerber
Each month, we spotlight a volunteer, staff member, docent, donor, or sponsor of the Virginia Robinson Gardens (VRG) — those that have made an impact on the organization. We want to let you know about these wonderful people and corporations that give so much to The Virginia Robinson Gardens and to the community, and what they do that is so impactful.
This month, we spotlight Chava Gerber, a wonderful docent at The Virginia Robinson Gardens. Curator April Walton said, “Chava actually began as a garden volunteer, then became a children’s docent and finally a docent for our regular visitor’s tours. Chava is such a warm and welcoming person. She always has a smile on her face every time I see her. She is also very well-traveled, exploring the US and many other countries as well. She is very adventurous but still finds time to be a part of the Gardens!!!! I adore her”… Read More
Flower Arranging Class with George Martinez at VRG
The forecast was for rain, but on the 16th of November, the sun shone bright on The Virginia Robinson Gardens. Six enthusiastic ladies gathered to learn flower arranging under the tutelage of master George Martinez from George’s Garden.
George is a very good friend of Robinson Gardens, as he has created masterpieces many times in the Dining Room of the Main House for our yearly Garden Tours.… Read More
Festive Wreath Making Class at VRG
On December 6, 2023, the talented Jelena Trifunovic, from Viola Floral, led us through a delightful workshop, creating holiday wreaths.
Everyone was provided with a dried grapevine circle to use as our wreath’s base, along with an abundance of magnolia, aromatic cedar and pine cuttings, seed pods and thistles. Jelena demonstrated her easy wiring technique to secure the “salad” greens to the grapevine.… Read More
“Daughter of the Dragon” and the Tea, Scones & Gardens Book Club
On December 16, 2023, the Tea, Scones & Gardens Book Club met at The Virginia Robinson Gardens to discuss Yunte Huang’s book Daughter of the Dragon: Anna May Wong’s Rendevous with American History. Amidst the charm of oversized wrapped presents, a beautifully decorated holiday fir tree, and a bright cheerful poinsettia in the Pool Pavilion, the group hunkered down to analyze the complex and multi-talented woman, Anna May Wong. It is such a profound story of a girl born in 1905 in a Chinese laundry in Los Angeles’ small Chinatown which was later destroyed to build Union Station.… Read More
Horticultural Corner: Meet This Tree: Cedar Deodar
The deodar cedar is a member of the Pinaceae family and is native to the Himalayas, thus its other name of “Himalayan cedar.” In the ancient language of Sanskrit, the word deodar means “tree of the Gods.”
This tree was first introduced to Europe in 1822 and to the United States in 1832. This is a large growing evergreen tree, reaching a height of 40 to 80 feet with a spread of 30 to 40 feet.
The tree trunk is very straight; the bark is dark gray, turning scaly and deeply furrowed as the tree matures. The arching branches drooping all the way down to the base of the trunk are covered with 1-2” bluish-green needles, giving the tree a stately look. The crown of the tree is a pyramidal shape.… Read More